Officer tried to pull over driver moments before fatal crash

Fatal crash

A fatal traffic wreck east of McCarran International Airport occurred moments after a patrol officer attempted to pull the car over for multiple traffic violations Friday morning, Metro Police officials said.

Just after 8 a.m., a Nissan Maxima hit a car near the intersection of South Pecos and East Russell roads and then ran into a pole, Metro Officer Laura Meltzer said.

Moments before the crash, a patrol officer attempted to catch up to the Nissan for a traffic stop near Sandhill Road and Rawhide Street, police said. The driver turned into oncoming traffic lanes on Russell Road, and then ran a red light at Pecos Road, where the car hit a Cadillac STS stopped in the eastbound lane.

The crash caused a traffic jam at the intersection as officers investigated and cleared the scene.

The driver was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center and later pronounced dead. The driver of the Cadillac sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.